www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Faith & Theology Monastic names and vestiture

I am aware of the monastic practice of receiving a new name. My question is this: at what point is the new name given and by whom?
(I am refeing strictly to the practice of the Christian East.)

Secondly, what is the practice of monastic vestiture, i.e., who is entitled to wear monastic garb and when?

It is the custom to give a name, when clothing a novice. The name is chosen by the superior (who may and often does consult the one being named in advance.)

The Code of Canons governs the wearing of the monastic habit, and my understanding is that it should always be worn. (Though in fact sometimes, for some kinds of manual work, or while traveling, for practical considerations, a monk might not wear the monastic habit, ...but arguably, he should.)

Both the name and the clothing are given at the beginning of this adventure, as a sign of renunciation of a past way of life, leaving the world, embracing life in community.

Is this true of Orthodox priests when they are ordained? I have an distant relative who is a married Antiochan Orthodox priest. His name was William, but now it is Fr. Thomas.

In Christ and the Theotokos,

Porter...gratefully.

Dear Porter,

As far as I know, and for as many priests that I have ever met, it is not Orthodox practice to change one's name when entering the Holy Priesthood.

On the other hand, if one was converted to Orthodoxy, they probably took on another name (more Orthodox or Eastern) when they were chrismated. Could this be the case with your relative?

In Christ,
Alice

Thanks, Alice. If this was the case and it could very well be we didn't know of the name change until he was ordained. He was a convert from the Episcopal fold. Up to then he went by "Bill". Could it be something particular to the Antiochans?

He is my daughter's father-in-law and lives in Alaska, went to the Orthodox seminary on Kodiak, and was ordained in Kansas. First church was in Flagstaff, Arizona where he stayed two years. He assists now in a parish in Anchorage. Next time we encounter I will ask him. He is the other grand father of my grand children. His wife (the other granma) and I are good friends. They called her Matushka, I think. Did I spell it right? Thanks.



Mary Jo

Hi Mary Jo,

How cool!

Is your son-in-law also Orthodox?

No, taking on another name after conversion is not unique to the Antiochian jurisdiction. Everyone generally does it--they find a particular Eastern saint and take that name as their 'baptismal' name, if you will.

How is it in the Catholic church? When do children take on a special religious name?

For cradle Orthodox, the ideal is to be named after a saint, either first or middle name, so that no other name needs to be given at baptism. If however, one is named at birth: Butch, for instance, he will have to be given a religious name in order to be baptized by the priest.

When we receive the Eucharist, we approach the chalice with the priest saying, "the servant of God ----fill in the blank". At this time, we should not give our nickname, diminutave name, or birth name if it differs from our baptismal name. It is the time to give one's baptismal name. For instance, I was baptized: Angela (Angeliki in Greek). That is how I receive Holy Communion.

In the old country, it was the perogative of the godparent to baptize you with any name they wanted, but that is not practiced anymore.

In Christ,
Alice

Father Deacon John, As Fr. Elias rightly says, the name is usually offered by the postulant before tonsure...but the superior (abbot/abbess) is free to select another name. For example, when I entered the monastery 40 years ago this July, I offered three choices, but received a completely different name instead...as my superior knew I had a devotion to my (now) patron Saint and his name was not on my list. I still sometimes wish I had received the name I really wanted Father Christian (after St. Christian, an early martyr)...but I guess it was NOT God's will for me.

The monastic tunic and belt and skoufos are given when one enters the monastery after a short period of probation. At Monastic Tonsure, the postulant is given the riassa and cowl in addition. If the Tonsure is to the Little or Great Schema, then the mandyas is given, which is the REAL monastic habit...and a sign of the angelic life (because it has no sleeves).

Hope this helps?

In His Holy Name,
+Fr. Gregory

I've also heard of the practice of giving the monk yet another name at the taking of the Great Habit (different than the one at tonsure) as a sign of further renunciation of life and taking another step in the angelic life.

Dear Father Deacon John,

I have agree with Father Gregory. The name given to the postulant is done one of two ways in an Orthodox monastic setting. In the Greek practice it is done when a novice is being cloth in the riassa (or middle step). When I was tonsured I was asked for names, and why I thought that the name of any of these patrons would be to spiritual benefit and patron. The abbot heard me out, but is not committing until the tonsure. Then in the prayer of tonsure your name and patron are given. Usually this is the name that will be yours for your entire life, even after tonsure to the schema.

In the Slavic practice, the novice keeps his name until he enters the lesser schema, and then the name is given. Slight variations to the practice. In the Greek practice it is considered permanent your vows at the point o the riassa, whille in the Russian/Slavic it is not until the schema.

The giving of the new name is significant of the postulant's old self dying and being raised as a new man in Christ.

Now for the question concerning another poster, regarding names of clergy that have been changed. A candidate for ordination sometimes prefers to be known by his baptismal name, i.e. Thomas, instead of William. In many cases the family of the candidate where unaware at the time the candidate was baptized that the child's secular name could also have a patron saint connected with it. Names like Robert, William, etc. have Western Christian Roots that preceed the schism. I know, I have done some research for some of my brother priests in this regard when a question has come up, and where surprised by the results found.

I hope that this is a little help.

In IC XC,
Father Anthony+

Alice,

I forgot in my p.m. to reply to this.


How is it in the Catholic church? When do children take on a special religious name?


The baptismal name is a special religious name, at least, to my knowledge it always has been unless it has changed. I sure hope not. Like mine is not Mary Jo, but Mary Josephine which is also on my birth certificate. And then I explained about confirmation in my p.m.

When I receive the Eucharist in the Byzantine Church the priest says, "Mary, the handmaiden of the Lord..."


Blessings,

M.J.

Fathers,

thank you for your replies. If a group of men or women is seeking to establish a monastery, but is not yet recognized by the Church as a monastery, should the group adopt these monastic practices, i.e., receiving a new name and wearing the traditional monastic habit?

Father Deacon John,

I would do nothing without consulting your churches canons, and without your hierarch's knowledge. It could hamper any formation efforts. This goes especially for wearing and monstic vesture. Some church authorities take a very dim view of this, without some formation blessing.

I hope this helps a little. If you need any further, PM me please.

In IC XC,
Father Anthony+

Father Deacon John,

If your questions are hypothetical, please indicate this so that people will not accuse you of gossip.

If you have real knowledge of irregular activities by a monastic community (or hopeful monastic community) then you should bring these activities to the attention of the appropriate Church authority. The Forum is not a place to discuss such activity. I would not tolerate anyone speaking of a possible irregularity in a couple�s marriage. I equally will not tolerate anyone speaking of a possible irregularity in a monastic community�s organizational status.

Admin

Admin,

I apologize for the confusion. The questions are more of a historical nature not related to any modern group in formation, so the questions are more than hypothetical. I apologize for not framing the questions in that manner. It is my understanding as well that nothing should be undertaken without the approval of Church authority. However, in my reading of the history of Francis of Assisi and the first "Penitents of Assisi", it seems as though God raised the Franciscan ministry outside the ordinary Church structure. (Though Francis did seek ecclesiastical approval as the ministry developed.) Given the unique Franciscan beginnings, I wondered if the Christian East would have any parallels to the Franciscans.

Sorry if my post gave speculation that I was engaging in gossip.

(color me embarrassed)